Monday, April 28, 2008

Today, Cole's third grade class visited NW Trek. NW Trek is just 17 miles from our house, and we visit it a few times each year. The kids had a fun time and we even got a little bit of excitement during the tram ride. While we were surrounded by a herd of elk, the tram's diesel engine backfired sending all of the wildlife scattering. Then the engine quit and started smoking. Eventually they got another tram to us, and we were back on our merry way. However, the 30 minute wait was about all the third graders could take.

Before we left on the trip, Cascade Christian had their awards ceremony. This was Cole's 3rd quarter in a row to receive straight A's!

Take a look at some of the photos from the awards assembly and the field trip.

Here's Cole with his certificate for Straight A's!

Cole with one of his classmates on the tram tour.

This Bison just gave birth last week. Very cute!

Here is a shot of one of the elk, just before the tram engine backfired and started smoking.

After about 30 minutes, the attention span of 9 year old boys begins to wear thin.

Transferring to the rescue tram!

Cole participates in a Wetlands presentation.

These are the items a human needs to prepare himself to live in a Wetland. Austin was a good sport!

A wolf gets ready to nap in the afternoon sun.

The boys check out the coyote-cam. It's pretty cool because you get to control the camera and zoom in and out.

A trained beaver that was born in at NW Trek. He could respond to sign language. Maybe we should leave Tucker here for some training.

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Last night Cole received his Bear Badge at the Cub Scout Pack 199 meeting. I am the Den Leader for his Bear Den, and all of the boys in my Den received their Bear Achievement. They did a great job this year, and we had a lot of fun.

Now the boys will continue on to the Webelos rank. We still have one more month of scouting this year before the summer.

Below are some photos of the Bear Ceremony, and a photo from the Cake Auction that happened afterward. Every year we auction off cakes that the boys make to help raise money for the pack. This year we raised over $1100! This money helps the Pack pay for badges, field trips and other pack activities.

Part of the Bear Badge ceremony is the face painting. Here I am painting symbols on Cole's face. Each symbol represents a character trait that the boys learned through the year.

Cole with his proud Den Leader and Dad!

I hand out the Bear Achievement recognition cards to each scout. Then the parents of each scout pin the Bear Badge upside down on the chest of the scout. Once they do a good deed, they can sew the patch on the uniform (right side up).

Here is our auctioneer, Dick Curtis, at the Cake Auction part of the Pack Meeting. Dick is a professional auctioneer that has been doing the Puyallup cake auctions for 35 years straight! He really makes the auction fun for the boys. Some of the cakes went for more than $100 each.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Here are some photos that I have taken of Cole playing baseball. He is playing in the Boy's 9-11 kid pitch little league. This is the first year that the kids pitch to each other, rather than the coaches doing the pitching.

Cole is already starting out as one of the best hitter's on the team. So far he is the only player on the team to hit a home run! He has one home run so far, which earned him a Jamba Juice after the game. He usually plays outfield or 2nd base.

Tonight he played second base and made a great play at second, which got the runner out. He had a single hit (but got thrown out at first) and then hit a standup double. The video below, shows the double.

Here he is on the bench.

Playing outfield.

Before the game, Cole caught a ball in the mouth while warming up. Ouch!

Saturday, April 19, 2008

This evening we braved the near freezing temperatures to once again visit the World Famous - Puyallup Spring Fair! Even though it was a little chilly, we had a great time! We browsed through the isles of booths that were selling everything from hats to hot tubs. We watched the Dock-Dogs long jump contest, rode rides, ate Krusty Pups, milked Mabel (the fake cow), saw real cows and even purchased a guitar! Kate has been planning on learning to play the guitar, so we have been looking for a good starter one for her. We found one at the fair and made the purchase. The wholesaler at the fair apparently felt sorry for the boys and threw in two children’s guitars for free! Needless to say the boys were thrilled. We got home shortly after 10pm, a little frostbitten and tired but with some good memories of this year’s “Spring” Fair.

Be sure and click on each photo for better viewing!

That's a dog flying through the air. Cole was ready for the splash!

He had to let the Jack FM guys know that his name was Jack, also.

Cole psyches himself up for the ride.

Even I came away with something. Dice from spinning the wheel at the Muckleshoot Casino Booth.

Kate and Jack take on the Scrambler!

Waiting in line.

This beats "Soarin' Over California".....NOT. Still it was pretty fun.

The kid in front of the boys was not a "Happy Camper".

Jack on the bumper cars.

Even Dad got a chance to go on a ride today.

Say "Hi" to Teresa and Kate!

Waiting for the Pronto-Pups! Guess who was more excited?

Jammin' on the new guitars for the listening pleasure of this year's Grand Champion Sheep. I believe Cole was the only one holding the guitar correctly.